12 Juli 2012

Intermediate Level Maintenance Facility at Amberley Fully Operational

12 Juli 2012

F/A-18F Super Hornet (photo : ADF Gallery)

BRISBANE, Queensland -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced
that its Australian Super Hornet Intermediate Level Maintenance (ILM) facility
at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in Queensland is fully
operational. The first-of-type ILM facility provides local engineering and
supply chain support to meet the operational flying demands of the RAAF’s 24 F/A-18F
fighter jets. A total of nine sustainment workshops have been completed to
date.

"This milestone marks an important element in the
successful transition of Australia's Super Hornet acquisition program to a
sustainment system that is delivering timely, localized technical support to
the RAAF's No. 82 Wing," said Kim Gillis, managing director, Boeing
Defence Australia (BDA). "Boeing has worked alongside the Tactical Fighter
System Program Office (TFSPO) to rapidly establish critical air combat support
capabilities, and we are now focused on maturing our capabilities to further
enhance aircraft availability and efficiency."

"The achievement of this milestone is testament to the
effective partnership between Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Boeing
which has seen the Super Hornet and the ILM facility delivered on time and on
budget," said Air Commodore Axel Augustin, Director General Aerospace
Combat Systems, DMO.

The ILM facility supports the Super Hornet’s external fuel
tank/aerial refueling pod, avionics, life-support and alternate-mission
equipment, structures, wheels and tires, and hydraulics, as well as aircraft
washing. Boeing also supports the aircraft through its integrated sustainment
capabilities at RAAF Base Amberley, including composite repairs, a paint shop,
and a non-destructive testing workshop.

"The Australian F/A-18 sustainment system, managed in
partnership with Boeing and the TFSPO, combines local industry expertise with
U.S. capabilities based in St. Louis," said Glen Ferguson, Aerospace
Support program manager for BDA. "The system also integrates the U.S.
Navy's established support networks to sustain mission readiness and reduce
support costs for the RAAF's Super Hornet fleet."

Australia became the first international Super Hornet customer
in 2007. Since the RAAF aircraft first entered service, Boeing has provided
pre- and post-deployment support during several international air combat
exercises, most recently Exercise COPE North in Guam.